In a bid to protect Australian jobs, the number of skilled migrants allowed into the country is being cut. It is the first time in a decade that the intake has been reduced. The decision to cut the number of immigrants comes as pressure mounts on the Australian government after last week's jump in unemployment to 5.2 percent.
澳大利亚为了保护本国的工作机会，削减了获准进入澳大利亚的外国技术移民数额。这是10年来的第一次。澳大利亚的失业率上星期升至5.2%。澳大利亚政府是在就业压力不断增大的时刻做出削减移民数额的决定的。
Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans says the skilled migration program, under which foreign workers are recruited to fill gaps in the labor market, will be reduced from 133,500 to 115,000 next year - a reduction of 14 percent.
澳大利亚移民部长克里斯.埃文斯说，技术移民数额明年将从13万3千5百减少到11万5千，降幅为14%。根据澳大利亚的技术移民计划，外国工人可以被聘用来填补澳大利亚劳务市场的空缺。
Bricklayers, plumbers and carpenters are among the occupations affected, as demand for skilled staff falls in Australia's slowing building and construction sectors.
受到影响的行当包括砖瓦工、水暖工和木匠.由于澳大利亚的建筑行业增长放缓，导致该行业技工需求下降。
The government has decided to target immigration after the country's jobless figure recently reached a four-year high.
近期的失业数字达到4年来的最高点后，政府便决定从移民问题入手。
Chris Evans says, with the Australian economy slowing, the number of foreigners allowed into the country must be cut
埃文斯说，随着澳大利亚经济放缓，必须削减外来移民人数。
"Like most other businesses, things have changed dramatically and so the migration program will be adjusted to reflect the realities of the current economic circumstance," Evans explained.
他说：“和其他部门一样，这里的情况发生了急剧的变化。所以，移民计划将会得以调整，使其和当前的经济环境相吻合。”
Government officials have said unemployment in Australia is likely to exceed seven percent, later this year. Some economists have far gloomier outlooks, predicting the jobless rate will reach 11 percent, as the country slides towards recession.
政府官员表示，澳大利亚失业率到今年晚些时候可能会超过7%。一些经济学家看到的前景则更为黯淡。他们预测，当国家陷入衰退，失业率会达到11%。
Amid such dismal employment prospects, trade unions in Australia are pushing the government in Canberra to make further reductions to the numbers of skilled migrants allowed to settle in the country.
面对如此黯淡的就业前景，澳大利亚的贸易工会开始敦促堪培拉政府进一步削减技术移民的数量。
Dave Noonan, the national secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, says Australia must limit the influx of foreign workers.
建筑、林业、矿产和能源联合会全国事务长戴夫.努南说，澳大利亚必须限制外国工人涌入。
"Certainly, in relation to construction, there is no good reason for the importation of people on temporary guest visas," he said. "In a declining construction market and a serious downturn caused by the global financial crisis, there is no reason for temporary workers to be brought into the construction industry."
他说：“当然，有关建筑行业，找不到什么好理由输入人员，给他们发放临时客工签证。在下滑中的建筑市场和国际金融危机导致的严重衰退中，没有理由让临时工人进入建筑行业。”
The global downturn has brought about a swift reversal of fortunes for Australia's once-mighty economy, which has enjoyed 17 consecutive years of growth, fueled by high demand from China and elsewhere for its mineral exports.
全球衰退使得澳大利亚一度强劲的经济势头逆转。澳大利亚在中国和其他国家对矿产需求的强劲带动下，经济连续17年处于增长状态。
Neighboring New Zealand, which has been in recession for the past year, the government says it had no plans to reduce its annual intake of 45,000 skilled migrants.
邻国新西兰过去一年中也陷入衰退。新西兰政府表示，没有打算削减每年吸纳4万5千名技术移民的计划。 |